Years of hinting and concept reveals have led us to this very moment: the official unveiling of the electric Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen.
As the future steadily cruises towards a greener horizon, the German marque has, at long last, married the all-conquering SUV — ladder frame, gear reduction, independent from suspension, solid rear axle, and all — with an all-electric design.
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Flaunting the same boxy form as its classic status symbol siblings, the electric G-Wagen features four electric motors each mounted close to a wheel — and each capable of being controlled individually for some impressive off-road performance. Or something as gimmicky as spinning itself on the spot (something referred to as a “tank turn”).
In total, you’re looking at 579 horsepower and 859 pound-feet of torque with a 0-100 sprint time of 4.7 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 180 km/h. And thanks to the underbody skid plate-protected 116 kWh battery it houses — two-tiered, 216 cells installed in 12 cell modules between three cooling levels — the estimated maximum range is around 473 kilometres, according to the WLTP standard (yet to be confirmed by Mercedes-Benz).
The battery can be charged from 10-80% in roughly half an hour depending where you plug in.
As for the interior, true to Mercedes’ reputation, it looks and feels like a luxury vehicle. Right down to the multifunction steering wheel with touch controls in Nappa leather and a 12.3-inch MBUX infotainment system (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto supported).
Not only does this represent the first-ever electric G-Wagen, but also the end of the EQ prefix traditionally designated to Mercedes-Benz’s battery-powered vehicles. Instead, this carbon-backed bad boy will simply be known as the G580 with EQ Technology.
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Currently, there’s no word on whether this will arrive on Australian shores. All we know is that first deliveries elsewhere are scheduled for late 2024/early 2025 with a starting price of €142,621.50 ($234,322) while the Edition One trim, which will be exclusive to the US market, costs €192,524.15 ($316,280).
UPDATE: The Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology is due to hit local showrooms between October and December later this year.
